A/N: Though I'm all for Caleb/Chase slash, and I always thought my first Covenant fic would be just that, I'm sorry to say that this won't be  - but it's not exactly disappointing because Sarah and Caleb are cute together anyway. And this is rated T, and though there are a few choice words, even PG-13 movies get one F! So here's the prologue to part two of the Crimson Tales saga: Damnation!

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They walked, hand in hand across the stone hewn bridge that overlooked the river flow. The evening was cold, and breezy as per the usual, but they had each other. Every once in a while, she would glance up to his face, and catch him glancing at her, until they both shyly looked away, sharing an awkward laugh. It was almost as if the magic spark between them never faded, not for an instant.

"Caleb," Sarah began, gripping his hand tighter, and clenching her other fist in her jean pocket. She fought the urge her body had to shiver; she didn't want him worrying. The first thing he would do would be to pick her up, carry her to his car, and drive her straight to the dorms for fear that she would catch something. And though she would love to be man handled by Caleb, she wanted to talk to him somewhere secluded. "Has something been bothering you lately? You've been so lost in your own world…"

"Hmm?" Caleb said, looking up to her, and realizing she was saying something. Sarah rolled her eyes and smiled, looking into his tired eyes. He fought the urge his body had to yawn, and looked deep into her eyes. He thought now would be the best time to say what lingered. "Sarah, I've been meaning to tell you something."

"Like what?" she smiled coyly, moving closer to him. She slipped her arms under his brown leather jacket and around his body. Her lips were seductively hovering above his, and he swallowed hard.

"Sarah, you mean so much to me. More than anyone else had in my entire life, and I think I want-"

"Caleb, I don't think you know what you want." She said teasingly, giving a curt kiss on his collarbone. He took in a deep breath, and tried to gain his senses.

"Sarah, listen to me for a second." He protested as she made her way up from the nook of his neck to his jaw-line. "I know we've only been dating for six months, but being with you has made me realize that I need-"

"I don't think you know what you need either." She said, giggling slightly as she nibbled lightly on his ear. Fore a moment he lost all concentration, but then suddenly took her by the shoulders and pulled her back to meet his eyes. She looked confused for a moment, until she saw him drop, and on bended knee, placed a red velvet box in her hand. Her heart stopped, and she didn't even see him before her anymore, for she was speechless. She knew exactly what knees, romantic strolls, stuttering sentences and especially jewelry boxes meant.

"Caleb, I," she began, but couldn't finish. He took her cold, shaking hands, and helped them open the box. The moon shared in their hope held moment as its light glinted into her eye, reflecting from the canary diamond perched gracefully upon its silver boughs.

"Sarah Laura Wenham, will you accept my hand in marriage, and be my beautiful wife?" Caleb said, flawlessly, as he smiled up into her eyes. Those dark eyes, they held so much wonder that the world seemed like the perfect place. She took the ring out of its tuck, and placed it, shakily, yet smoothly, on her ring finger. She suddenly dropped herself to the ground, tackling Caleb as she did so, kissing him passionately and fiercely in excitement.

"Is that a yes!?" he laughed as he gasped for air. The two lay there, laughing at his sarcasm, never minding the moist dirt or leaves in their hair. They were happy, and when you're truly happy, no trifles can ever harm your moments.

"Sarah, I love you." He said, looking into her face. He suddenly noticed that she wasn't moving. She smiled back, looking deeply into his eyes, but she seemed to be… frozen in time.

"Aren't we just a happy couple." Came an ominous voice so familiar, and terrifying, it sent chills through Caleb's entire body. He sat up, careful not to touch Sarah for fear that something might happen to her, and looked around. "Your life is just so fan-fucking-tastic, isn't it?" Caleb heard, turning around to see the haunting figure of Chase Collins. Caleb raised his hand, ready to strike, when Chase waved his hand, dismissing the action.

"Relax, you killed me once, what more can you do to me?" he laughed. Caleb furrowed his brow in confusion, and lowered his hand. "Don't look so surprised. You heard me right, I'm dead. You saw it happen, the night at the barn. I was vaporized to say the least – and don't think that it didn't hurt like a bitch."

"What do you want?" Caleb said, more stern and weary now. Chase smirked that infamous smirk, and began to take a few steps toward Caleb as he used to.

"Six months, one week, two days." Chase said. Caleb now looked dumbfounded.

"What?"

"That is how long I've been in that hell – well, purgatory, if you want to get technical about it. That's how long I've been in that black abyss." He said, gaining distance, now only a few feet away from Caleb. "Do you know what it's like to have those god forsaken wraiths slowly eat away at the pieces of you that you care most about?"

Caleb didn't say anything, but looked at the reality in Chase's eyes as he continued what he was saying.

"It may have only been six months, but in Purgatory there is no time, and it was an eternity of pain. Pain in this world is NOTHING like metaphysical pain, Caleb." He said, his voice shaking from emotion, though anger or not, Caleb couldn't tell. Chase suddenly swung his fist toward Caleb. Caleb braced himself for something, but felt nothing. "Relax, I'm dead, remember?"

Caleb opened his eyes to see half of Chase's arm sticking through his body. He slowly pulled his arm out of Caleb's chest, and shook his wrists out.

"It just makes me feel better."

"So why are you here?" Caleb asked him, leaning against a nearby tree. Chase traced his fingers around his chin, over his lips, smirking as he examined Caleb.

"I'm the messenger." Chase said, gaining a look that was too enthused for Caleb's taste. "Come to bring you news from beyond." He said, straining the last word to sound eerie; he'd accomplished that much. "You get to be put on trial."

"Trial?" Caleb said. This sort of thing was unheard of, and the book of damnation hadn't mentioned any trials.

"You broke the law, my friend." Chase said, walking over to where Sarah lay, kneeling down and looking at her joyful features. Caleb was too deep in thought to care about Chase's strange observation. What law? "I know you're confused, so let me tell you point blank what's going on.

"I'm here, because someone had to be the messenger, and they thought who better than the reason you're being put on trial. So I agreed, after all if I see you through this, I'm free. The law you broke is a pretty easy one to comprehend, so don't try to over think it; I don't think you've got the brain capacity." He laughed. Caleb gave a sarcastic smile, and then went back to his serious glare. "You killed one of your own brethren."

"Wait, you were never a part of our coven; you were banned."

"By man's law, yes I, and my bloodline, was banned from your little group; by your ancestor's rules, true. But The Watchers don't see it just the same as you and I do. No, I was your brother, your friend, your ally-"

"As much an ally as you tried to kill me."

"I tried to gain your power, dying was just a side effect." Chase smirked. "But killing one of the five chosen is strictly forbidden, and punishable by eternal damnation; and trust me, I only had a taste of that, you don't want the full on whip that they'll cast down on you, which is why I'm going to help you out a little."

"What do you get out of it? Eternal rest, heaven, etcetera?" Caleb asked, lifting a skeptic brow and eyeing the ghostly face as Chase stood by Sarah's side.

"If I get you through this, I'm free. Not just from hell, but from the afterlife; I get a second chance to live out the rest of my miserable existence."

"So what kind of trial is this going to be?"

"That, my friend, I can't tell you. But I can tell you that you had better keep your eyes open in the front, and keep your friend's eyes open behind you, because for what you did, they're gonna give you one hell of a test. A test to see if you're worthy of sparing." Chase said, almost disgusted by the thought that Caleb would be worth anything. "Oh but don't worry, I have faith in you Caleb. Because I actually think that there's more to you than meets the eye." Chase said, stepping up to Caleb's chest. "But just remember," he whispered, "They're eyes don't blink. So watch what you say and do from now on." He said as he walked through Caleb, disappearing in a vapor.

"Ow!" Caleb heard Sarah yell as she hit the ground, since he was no longer beneath her to hold her there. He rushed to her side, a concerned look washed upon her face as she saw his expression. She had missed something, and she could feel that the world was not all right anymore, no longer the perfect haven they were in seconds ago.

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A/N: So READ & REVIEW!!!